Cuspidor.



I. P. MILLER.

CUSPIDOR.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. I3, I9I5.

wvanhw J F IVI n LER,

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH cli-.WASHINGTON D C.

JOHN PERCY MICLER,` A0F BELLMORE, INDIANA.

` CUSPIDOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Application filed January 13, 1915. Serial No. 2,002.

T0 all whom ttmag/ concern Be it known that I, JOHN P. MILLER, a citizenof the United States, residing at Bellmore, in the county of Parke vandState of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCuspidors, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in cuspidors, and theobjectof theinvention is to provide a device of this general characterhavingv novel and improved means capable of automatic operation forclosing the outlet of the cuspidor when the same is tilted or upsetwhereby the contents of the cuspidor are prevented from escaping.

The rinvention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved cuspidorwhereby certain important advantages are attained and the device isrendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient andadvantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully dened in theappended claims.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through acuspidor constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2 9. of F ig.1; and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail view in section, illustrating thevalve or slide in closed position.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a receptacle havinga flat bottom 2 adapted to be rested upon the floor or other supportingsurface and provided with the outwardly ared mouth portion 3, hereindisclosed as substantially rectangular in top plan, although I do notwish to be understood as limiting myself as to any particular design.One face of the mouth, and preferably at its junction with thereceptacle 1, is slotted, as at 4, and through which is adapted to bedirected, the shutter or valve 5, herein disclosed as of substantiallywedge formation. The remaining portion of the mouth is provided with thegrooves 6 adapted to receive the marginal portions of the shutter orvalve 5 and in order that a substantially hermetic seal may be createdwhen the valve or shutter 5 is in closed adjustment, I find it ofadvantage to line such grooves with rubber, felt or other compressiblematerial, for a purpose which is believed to be self-evident. I alsoiind it of advantage to have the walls of the slot I similarly lined.

Projecting'laterally from thereceptacle 1 adjacent the upper portionthereof are the ears 7 to which are suitably secured the eX- tremitiesofthe retractable members 8, herein disclosed as conventional coilsprings, the opposite extremities of said members being secured to thesides of the shutter or valve 5 adjacent the outer ends thereof. As isbclieved to be self-evident, the action of the members 8 serves tomaintain the shutter or valve 5 normally in closed adjustment.

Adjacent the base thereof, the receptacle 1 is provided with a lug orprojection 9 with which is pivotally engaged the heel l() of thesubstantially L-shape trigger 11. The trigger 11 has a substantiallyvertically disposed member 12 adapted to coact with the depending lug 14positioned adjacent the outer end of the valve or shutter 5 atsubstantially its transverse center, while the foot l5 of the trigger isof such a length as to underlie the bottom 2 of the receptacle when thecuspidor is in vertical or operative position. By this arrangement, itwill be seen that the trigger 11 will serve to maintain the shutter orvalve 5 in an outward position, it being understood that the receptacle1 and its concomitant parts are'of such weight as to withstand thetension of the members 8. It will also be self-evident that upon thereceptacle 1 being tilted or upset, the valve or shutter 5 will besubstantially instantaneously adjusted Ainto closed position under theinfluence of the members 8.

In order to afford a support for the valve or shutter 5when in retractedposition, I find it of advantage to employ the arms 16 projecting fromthe receptacle 1 adjacent the opposite extremities of the slot 4 andover which the valve or shutter 5 is capable of free sliding movement.

While I hereinbefore specifically referred to my invention as applied toa cuspidor, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in thisrespect as I nd my improved valve or shutter and the controlling meanstherefor 'may ibelemployed with equal fa-Y cility With receptaclesintended for other usages. l V

From the foregoing "description, 1t "1s 4thought to be obvious that acuspidor constructed in accordance with my invention is of an extremelysimple and comparatively inexpensive nature and is particularly Welladapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility With Which itmay be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention issusceptible of some :change and modification Without material departurefrom the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wishto be understood a-s limiting myself to the precise arrangement andformation lof the several parts herein shown in carrying out myinvention in practice.

I claim:

l. A cuspidor comprising a receptacle having a flat bottom and providedWith an opening, a valve adapted to close vsaid opening, a substantiallyL-shape trigger pivotally supported by the receptacle, the foot of tendbeneath the bottom of the receptacle,

:the valve being lprovided With a depending lug With Whi'ch'the verticalstem of the trigger engages When the valve is in retracted adjustment,and retractable members secured to the receptacle and to the valve.

2. A cuspidor including a receptacle having a flat bottom and providedWith a mouth, one face of the mouth being slotted, the remainingportions ofthe mouth being provided with grooves, a compressible liningfor said mouthvand grooves, a shutter disposedthrough the slot andslidably engaged Within the grooves, means for Vmaintaining the `shutterin a retracted adjustment, and kmeans for automatically adjusting theshutter into a closed position upon tilting of the receptacle.

In testimony whereof I .hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

JOHN BERCY MILLER. lllitnesses GEO. SANDS, HoMER R. SANDS.

i'opies lof this patent may be "obtained .for five cents each,r by:addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

. ,Washingtom ZD. C."

